All-too-familiar bullpen struggles doomed the Los Angeles Dodgers as they fell to the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6, in another rainy affair at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers settled for a series split and finished 4-3 on their road trip out of the All-Star break.
After Ross Stripling held the Phillies to three runs (two earned), and Yimi Garcia tossed a scoreless sixth, Caleb Ferguson taking over in the seventh marked the beginning of the end for the Dodgers.
In his first game since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, Ferguson hit the leadoff man and compounded that by issuing a walk. He was promptly replaced by Dylan Floro, who allowed an RBI single after striking out Scott Kingery.
Joe Kelly then took over, only to allow a game-tying RBI single to Bryce Harper and two-run base hit to Rhys Hoskins. The Phillies used the four-run seventh inning to complete their comeback win.
Up that point the Dodgers appeared on their way to another victory behind the bats of Matt Beaty and Kiké Hernandez. They combined to go 7-for-8 with five runs scored, five RBI, one double and three home runs.
Hernandez had a game-high four RBI, though it was Beaty who opened the scoring for the Dodgers by lining a solo shot into the right-field stands during the second inning.
Hernandez made it back-to-back solo home runs and gave the Dodgers a lead with his drive to left field. Hernandez then clubbed a two-run home run in the fourth inning to again put L.A. ahead.
The multi-homer game was Hernandez’s second this season and fifth in his career. After Beaty doubled in the sixth inning, Hernandez hit an RBI single into center field.
He has quietly emerged from a skid, hitting over .300 to go along with 10 runs scored, three homers and 11 RBI since June 30.
Pitching for the first time since throwing at David Freese and being ejected, Hector Neris retired A.J. Pollock and Freese, then surrendered a home run to Alex Verdugo before converting the save opportunity. Neris was fined and received a three-game suspension for his act, but remains eligible as he’s appealed the ruling.
The four home runs the Dodgers hit gave them 15 in the series.
